How to Plan the Perfect Game Night

There’s something exhilarating about a great game night.

Sure, you can snack on a fistful of pretzels anywhere, but the memories made during an engaging round of Monopoly can last a lifetime. It’s also in our nature: Humans are social creatures, and games have been around nearly as long as we have.

“Games go back thousands and thousands of years,” said Geoff Engelstein, an award-winning table-top game designer. “The earliest tombs that they’ve found have dice in them. They very rarely find any kind of archaeological excavation without some kind of game playing. It’s really just part of the human experience.”

And with a bit of strategic planning, you can partake in this age-old ritual like a pro. Whether it’s picking the right games or buying the right snacks, here’s what board game experts and enthusiasts recommend for the perfect game night.

Set the scene

Your first challenge is settling on a host. Sure, anyone with a couch or a kitchen table can have friends over, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to gather in a place where people can comfortably sit and play for several hours.

That’s why Erik Arneson, author of “How to Host a Game Night,” usually volunteers to host with his wife at their oval dining table in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

“The most important single factor is who has the best table with good lighting and comfortable chairs,” Mr. Arneson said. “It really does matter. Whether it’s just natural aging, or people with vision impairments, or whatever, a lot of times, the text on cards in a game is just too small.”